a small subsample

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small subsample" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a limited portion of a larger sample, often in research or statistical contexts. Example: "In our study, we analyzed a small subsample of participants to understand the effects of the treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

A small subsample of the features obtained from the tetrode (ca. 10,000 20,000 events) is clustered using a modified version of k-means that uses Mahalanobis distance and a scaling factor related to the cluster size.

Journal of Neuroscience Methods

Given a problem dataset, anticipative determination of the desired ensemble composition is carried out as follows: First, we estimate the performance of each classifier architecture by independent pilot cross-validation experiments on a small subsample of the data.

Journal of Computational Science

Given a problem dataset, the process of anticipative determination of the ensemble composition is as follows: First, we estimate the performance of each classifier architecture by independent pilot cross-validation experiments on a small subsample of the data.

Procedia Computer Science

A small subsample of patients accessed a large number of program modules in the year following treatment; these patients had significantly higher abstinence rates and consumed less alcohol than patients accessing few or no modules.

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

A small subsample (~100 mg) of each sample was analyzed.

Earth, Planets and Space

This finding is supported by additional analyses of a small subsample of women for whom information on pregnancy intention was collected both during pregnancy and after birth.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

This report is based on a smaller subsample of 1,847 respondents from commercial enterprises.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

However, this finding was absent in a smaller subsample after correction for cognitive impairment.

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

However, CIs were wider and overlapped 1.0 for these analyses based on a smaller subsample (N = 2,355).

American Journal of Hypertension

The finding of reduced insulin sensitivity contrasts with recent observations in a smaller subsample of the Inter99 population studied with the euglycemichyperinsulinemic clamp technique (1).

Diabetes Care

An intuitive way to reduce computational complexity for large datasets is to work on a smaller subsample drawn from the dataset.

Cytometry Part A

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small subsample", specify the size or proportion of the subsample if possible to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid drawing broad conclusions based solely on findings from "a small subsample". Always acknowledge the limitations of the sample size and suggest further research with larger samples to confirm results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small subsample" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun, typically referring to a group or set. It indicates that only a limited portion of a larger sample is being considered. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

Academia

8%

News & Media

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a small subsample" is grammatically sound and commonly employed, especially within scientific and academic writing. It serves to define the scope of an analysis as limited to a specific portion of a larger dataset. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and prevalent. While "a small subsample" is most frequently encountered in science, it is also present, although to a lesser extent, in academic research and news reporting. When using the phrase, it's best practice to state the size of the subsample and avoid overgeneralizing the findings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited subset

Emphasizes the restricted quantity and selection from a larger set.

a tiny fraction

Highlights the minimal proportion relative to the whole.

a reduced portion

Focuses on the act of diminishing or lessening the original amount.

a select few

Implies a deliberate choice of specific items or individuals from a larger group.

a representative sample

Suggests the chosen portion accurately reflects the characteristics of the entire group.

a miniature version

Highlights the scaled-down nature of the component.

a controlled segment

Emphasizes the managed and defined aspect of the selection.

a manageable quantity

Focuses on the ease with which the portion can be handled or analyzed.

a pilot group

Indicates an experimental portion used to test or gather initial data.

a test cohort

Refers to a group specifically selected for experimentation or observation.

FAQs

How can I use "a small subsample" in a research paper?

In research, you might use "a small subsample" to conduct preliminary analyses or pilot studies. For instance, "A small subsample of participants was selected for in-depth interviews to gather qualitative data before the main survey."

What are some alternatives to using "a small subsample" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a limited subset", "a tiny fraction", or "a reduced portion" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a small subsample" in formal writing?

Yes, "a small subsample" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific and academic contexts. However, ensure the context clearly explains why a subsample was used and its limitations.

What's the difference between "a small subsample" and "a small sample"?

"A small subsample" refers to a portion taken from an already existing sample, while "a small sample" refers to a small group selected directly from a population. The key difference is the presence of an initial, larger sample from which the subsample is derived.